Table leg lock



y 1933 G. F. CQRDUAN 1,912,126

TABLE LEG LOCK Filed Oct. 3, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l 77 5 5 20 TrnfenTEr q) 1* M 4 m If w Jim May 30, 1933. G. F. CORDUAN 1,912,126

TABLE LEG LOCK Filed Oct. 5, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 II/IIIIIIIIIIIIIII Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED: STATES- PATENT Fries:

sos'rnvn r. CORCDUAN, or onrcaeo, rrirnv'ors, ASSIGNGR T ooannalv MANUFACL' TUBING co r-creator orrrceee, ILLINQ'IS; A. oonrone'rron. or- ILLINOIS TABLE LEG LOCK" Application. filed October 3, 1980. Serial N0; 486,170.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements intable-leg; locking devices, and moreparticularly to an improved means for holding the legs of a folding card table positively but releasably in vertical or extendedposition. v

In the copending application of Bn-rl-in. and Corduan, Serial. No. 317,407, filed November 5,. 1.928, is disclosed an improved form of metal table provided. with. legs. which are adapted to be folded from the normal position extendingdownWa-rdly at right. angles from the corners of the table to a position substantially parallel with the bottom face of the table, so that the table can be'stored away in a comparatively small space,

The present invention; relates to an improved means for releasably lockingea'ch leg in its normal extended position. The improved locking mechanism comprises amemb'er adapted for sliding movement in the leg, and a latch member pivotally mounted at the rear face of the leg and partly in the channel of the leg for detachablelocking engagement with the slide member. A pair ofbracing struts extend from the slide member to spaced points on the lower face of the table. A spring normally moves the latch member into looking engagement with the slide member,

and an integral extension of the latch member projects around to the front or outer face of the leg and terminates in abutton which is readily accessible for releasing the latch member to permit the leg to be folded inwardly against the lower face of the table top.

The principal obj ectof this invention is to provide an improved locking means for the legs of a folding table, as briefly described 40 hereinabove and disclosed more in detail in the specifications which follow.

Another object is to provide an improved form of latching mechanism for holding a table leg in normal extended position.

Another object is to. provide a latching mechanism of the type referred to herein.- above, which is easily releasable by means positioned at the outer face of the table leg.

Another objectis to provide a latching mechanism of theztype hereinabove disclosed.

whichmaybe simply and economically constructed. from sheet material.

Another object isto provide improved means for preventing. accidental release of the locking. mechanism.

Another object is to provide an improved leg construction including ornamental means adapted to accommodate the releasing, portion of the locking. mechanism and combine therewith to provide a pleasing appearance on the exposed faces of the table legs.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of' one approved form of mechanism embodying the principles of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a table to which thisinvention is applied.

Fig. 2' is an inner elevation of one of the leg assemblies, a portion of the table top being, sh own in vertical section.

Fig.- 3' is a vertical section, taken substantially on the line 33, of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section, on a larger scale, taken. substantially on the line H of Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a. perspectiveview of the slide member.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the latch member.

The table (as shown in perspective in Fig. 1) is constructed for the mostpart of stamped or pressed metal parts, suitably connected,

and is usually provided With'a padded cover of any suitable material in case the table is designed for use as a card table as in the example here shown. The table comprises a top 1 of generally square form, to. the underside of each corner portion of which is pivotally attached a leg 2. which may be swung from the extended or normal, position shown in Figs. 1, 2' and 3,. to a position against the lower face of'the table top and substantially parallel therewitli,.along a diagonal extending. from one corner to an opposite corner.

The table top 1 comprises four similar m-etallic corner pieces 3 which are connected by the flat metal top member 4', the side or rim members 5 and bracing channels 6.. The

metal top 4 supports a covering consisting of a pad 7 and a top sheet 8 of suitable ornamental flexible covering material.

The corner piece 3 is formed with a stamped out and downwardly turned lug 9 to which the upper end of a leg 2 is pivot-ally connected, and is also form-ed with a pair of similar lugs 10 to which the upper ends of bracing struts 11 are pivoted. The pivot lugs for the struts are substantially spaced both from the pivot lug 9 for the leg, and from each other, so that the respective pivot points are arranged at the apices of a triangle.

Each leg 2 is pressed from a sheet of metal into a general channeled form, the main lower portion of each leg having a closed, vertically ribbed or corrugated outer face portion 12 from which side members 13 extend rearwardly and inwardly to enclose a central channel 14, into which opens a vertical slot 15 at the rear or inner face of the leg. A suitable foot or cap member 16 is secured to the lower end of the leg 2. Toward its upper end, the side flanges 13 of the channeled leg are bentoutinto substantial parallelism, as indicated at 17, in Figs. 2 and 3. At its upper end the portions of the leg are pressed together to form a fiat member 18 which is pivotally connected by pin or rivet 19 to the lug 9 extending downwardly from corner piece 3.

The principal members of the locking mechanism are a slide member 20, best shown in Fig. 5, and a latch member 21, best shown in Fig. 6, each of which is pressed or stamped from a small piece of sheet material.

I The inner or rear portion 22 of slid-e 20 is corrugated or waved, to form projections 23 extending alternately in opposite directions, this laterally enlarged portion of the slide fitting within the channel 14 in the leg 2 and being vertically slideable therein, while the rear plane portion of slide 20 extends outwardly through the slot 15. The rear lower portion of slide20 forms a lug 24, perforated at 25, to receive a pin or rivet 25, by means of which the lower ends of the struts 11 are pivotally connected to the opposite faces of lug 24 of slide member 20. A straight sided recess 26, cut in the upper portion of the slide member, forms a stop shoulder 27 at the upper end of lug 24 and the horizontal lower face of a locking lug 28, the upper face of which is bevelled upwardly and outwardly at 28.

The latch member 21 has a main rear face portion 29 which is curved or channeled inwardly and provided with parallel inwardly extending ears 30 perforated to receive a pin or rivet 32 by means of which the latch is pivotally connected between the side members 17 of the upper open-channeled portion of the leg. The lower portion of the rear face member 29 is provided with an opening 33 adapted to receive the locking lug or hook 28. A torsion spring 34 is coiled about the pivot pin 32 and has one end portion 35 bearing against the inner wall of the channeled leg, and another end 36 bearing against the inwardly inclined upper end portion 37 of the latch member 21. This end portion 37 may be bent or wedged outwardly and upwardly to provide a channel or recess 38 for receiving the end 36 of spring 34. It will be apparent that the torsion spring 34 will nor mally swing the lower end of the latch inwardly toward the leg so as to hold the locking recess 33 in engagement with the hooked lug 28 on the slide member 20. It will be apparent that as the slide 20 is moved upwardly in the leg channel, the bevelled upper face 28 of locking lug 28 will engage the lower end 39 of latch member 21 and swing the latch member rearwardly against the resistance of spring 34 until the locking lug 26 snaps into position within recess 33.

An integral finger-piece 40 extends forwardly from one side of the main inner portion 29 of latch member 21 so as to extend around one side of the leg member 2, and then bends across the front or outer face of the leg, as at 41, and is formed with a button or finger-piece 42 which is pressed inwardly against the leg in order to release the latch. A flange portion 43 may be bent rearwardly to extend along the opposite side of the leg member.

A suitably ornamented facing is secured to the outer or front portion of the upper half of each leg 2. This facing comprises a lower stam ed ornamental plate 44 secured, preferably y spot-welding, to the outer face 12 of the leg. An upper ornamental plate 45 is bent rearwardly and punched at its upper end 46 to engage about the leg and is spot-welded at its lower end over the upper end of plate 44. This plate 44 is formed with a pocket or depression 47 to receive the releasing button 42. The outer face of button 42 normally lies substantially in the vertical plane of the adjacent outer portions of facing plate 44, and the releasing button does not normally project to any great extent beyond the adjacent portions of the leg so as to minimize the danger of accidental release of the latch member. Furthermore, the outer faces of button 42 and facing plate 44 are stamped or decorated to provide a harmonizing contour and appearance and thus enhancethe ornamental value of the table.

It will now be apparent that when the table is in folded condition, all that is necessary to erect the table to the normal position shown in Fig. 1 is to pull out each leg 2 to a position at substantial right angles to the table top, during which operation the slide 20, due to its'connection with struts 11, will slide upwardly in the channeled leg until the locking lug 26 snaps into position within recess 33 in the latch member. The lower end 39 of the latch engages the stop shoulder 27 on the sl de neiarae to prevent further outwardmovementof the leg. The engagement ofhook26 in recess 33 prevents inward movement of the leg. It will thus be seen thatthe leg member'is firmly locked in vertical or extended position against inward or outward movements and the laterally extending struts ll brace the leg against sideward' movements. The latch may be readily released by merely pressing inwardly on the finger-piece or button d2, after which the leg may be swung inwardly to fold'ed position against the bottom of the table top.

It will now be apparent that this improved latching mechanismpositively locks the leg against movement in any direction when in its normal vertical positionso as to provide a firm and rigid table construction; The locking mechanism consists of a few. simple stampings which are easily and economically manufactured and assembled.

lVhile thisimproved locking mechanism is especially designed for use in a metaltable of the type herein referred to, it will be noted that this locking mechanism is capable of use with other forms of folding tables, or in other similar constructions where a folding leg or brace is to be locked in an extended position, or for any other suitable purpose, and such alternative uses are to be considered as withinthe scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a metallic table, a top frame member, a leg pivotally attached to the frame member, struts pivoted to the frame member at points spaced from the leg, the leg being of channelled construction, a slide member mounted in the channel of the leg and having the lower ends of the struts pivotally attached thereto, a latch member pivotally mounted at one side of the leg and adapted to engage the slide to hold it in one position, a: spring to move the latch into engagement with the slide, the latch having a releasing member projecting into an accessible position at the opposite side of the leg, and means for preventing accidental operation of the releasing member.

2. In a metallic table, a top frame member, a leg pivotally attached to the frame memb-er, struts pivoted to the frame member at points spaced from the leg, the leg having a channeled construction with a slot opening from the channel at the inner side of the leg, a slide member mounted in the channel and having a portion projecting through the slot to which portion the lower ends of the struts are pivotally attached, a latch member pivorally mounted in the upper portion of the channel and adapted to engage the slide to hold it in one position against movement in either direction along the leg, a spring positioned within the/leg and engaging the leg and latch to move the latch intoengagement with the slide, and an integral finger-piece extending fromthe latch around one sideof the leg'and: terminating: in a releasing button positioned at the outer side of the leg. 3'. In ametallic table, a top frame-member, a leg pivotally attached to the framemember, struts pivoted. to the frame member at points spaced from the leg, the leg havinga channeled construction with a slot opening from the channel atithe inner side of the leg, a slide member mounted in the channel and having a portioniprojectingj throughthe slot to which portion the lower ends of the struts are pivotally, attached,a latch: member pivotally mounted in the upper portion of the channel and ada-ptel to engage the slideto hold it in one position against movement in either direction along the log, a spring to move the latch into engagement withthe V slide, and integral finger-piece extending from the latch around one side of the leg. and terminating in a releasing button positioned at the outer side of the leg, the leg being formedwith a recess in its outer :face toaccommodate the releasing button. 1

4. In a metallic table, a top frame member,

a leg pivotally attached to the frame member, struts pivoted to the frame member at points spaced from the leg, the leg having a channeledconstruction with a slot opening from the channel at the inner side of the leg,.a slide member mounted. in the channel and having a portion projecting through the slot to which portion the lower ends of the struts are pivotally attached, a latch member pivotally mounted in the upper portion of the channel and adapted to engage the slide to hold it in one position against movement in either direction along the leg, a spring to move the latch into engagement with the slide, an integral finger-piece extending from the latch around one side of the leg and terminating in a releasing button positioned at theouter side of the leg,-an ornamental facing strip attached to the outer face of the leg, said strip being formed. with a recess to receivethe releasing button.

5. in a metallic table, a top frame member, a leg pivotally attached to the framemema ber, a strut pivoted to the frame member at a point spaced from the leg, the leg: being formed of sheet metal bent into a channeled construction with a slot opening from the channel at the inner side of the leg, a slide member mounted in the channel and having a portion projecting through the slot to which portion the lower end ofthe strut is pivotally connected, the upper portion of the slide being formed with an upwardly facing stop shoulder and a lug spaced from the shoulder and having an upwardly and outwardly bevf eled upper face, a latch member pivotally mounted in the upper portionof the channel and formed with a locking recess adjacent its lower end to engage the lug, thelower end of the latch engaging thes top shoulder when the lug is within the recess, a spring positioned within the leg and engaging the leg and latch to swing the latch member into locking position, and an integral finger-piece extending from the latch around one side of the leg and terminating in a releasing button positioned at the outer side of the le 6. In a metallic table, a top frame member, a leg pivotally attached to the frame member, a strut pivoted to the frame member at a point spaced from the leg, the leg being formed of sheet metal bent into a channeled construction with a slot opening from the channel at the inner side of the leg, a slide member mounted in the channel and having a portion projecting through the slot to which portion the lower end of the strut is pivotally connected, the upper portion of the slide being formed with an upwardly facing stop shoulder and a lug spaced from the shoulder and having an upwardly and outwardly beveled upper face, a latch member pivotally mounted in the upper portion of the channel and formed with a locking recess adjacent its lower end to engage the lug, the lower end of the latch en aging the stop shoulder when the lug is within the recess, a spring to swing the latch member into locking position, an integral finger-piece extending from the latch around one side of the leg and terminating in a releasing button positioned at the outer side of the leg, and an ornamental facing strip attached to the outer face of the leg, said strip being formed with a recess to receive the releasing button.

7. In combination with a table top and a leg ivoted thereto at its upper end and adapted to be folded inwardly against the lower face of the table top, means for holding the leg in normal vertical position against movement in any direction comprising a member slidably engaged with the leg, a pair of struts pivoted to the slide at their lower ends and pivoted at their upper ends to the table at points substantially spaced from the pivot of the leg and from each other, antomatically engaging latch mechanism for positively holding the slide against movement in either direction lengthwise of the leg, and means accessible from the outer face of the leg for releasing the latch, and shielding means for preventing accidental operation of the releasing means.

8. In combination with a table top and a leg pivoted thereto at its upper end and adapted to be folded inwardly against the lower face of the table top, means for holding the leg in normal vertical position against movement in any direction comprising a member slidably engaged within the leg and projecting from the rear face thereof, a pair of struts pivoted to the slide at their lower ends and pivoted at their upper ends to the table at points substantially spaced from the pivot of the leg and from each other, a latch member pivotally mounted within the leg, the latch and slide being formed with cooperating locking members adapted to engage one another for positively holding slide against movement in either direction lengthwise of the leg, a spring positioned within the leg and engaging the latch and leg for moving the latch to locking position, and means extending integrally from the latch around one side of the leg to a position at the outer face of the leg for releasing the latch.

9. In combination with a table top and a leg pivoted thereto at its upper end and adapted to be folded inwardly against the lower face of the table top, means for holding the leg in normal vertical position against movement in any direction comprising a member slidably engaged within the leg and projecting from the rear face thereof, a pair of struts pivoted to the slide at their lower ends and pivoted at their upper ends to the table at points substantially spaced from the pivot of the leg and from each other, a latch member pivotally mounted within the leg for positively holding the slide against movement in either direction lengthwise of the leg, a spring for moving the latch to locking position, and means positioned at the outer face of the leg for releasing the latch, the leg being formed with shielding means to prevent accidental operation of the releasing means.

10. A locking mechanism for a swinging table leg, comprising a slide member having a portion adapted to be slidably mounted in the leg and an attaching portion adapted to project at the inner side of the leg and be pivoted to a bracing strut, a latch member formed from an integral sheet of metal bent to provide a main portion atthe channeled side of the leg and a pair of outwardly projecting ears pivoted within the leg channel, said latch and slide being for-med with cooperating locking members adapted to engage one another to hold the leg in one fixed position, and a spring positioned within the leg to swing the latchmember to locking position, the latch member being formed with an integral releasing member extending integrally from the main portion of the latch member around one side of the leg and terminating in a releasing button positioned at the outer side of the leg.

11. A locking mechanism for a swinging table leg, comprising a slide member formed of a piece of sheet metal bent laterally at its inner edge to form a portion for sliding in a leg channel, the outer portion of the slide being formed with a lower lug for pivotal attachment to a bracing strut, with an upper locking shoulder and with an upper locking lug spaced from the shoulder and bevelled at its upper end, a latch member formed from a sheet of metal bent to provide a main portion at the channeled side of the leg with a locking recess to receive the locking lug on the slide, and a portion beneath the recess to engage the shoulder, a pair of outwardly projecting ears pivoted Within the leg channel, and av releasing finger extending around one side of the leg and terminating in areleasing button positioned at the outer face of the leg, and a, spring for swinging the latch member to locking position.

GUSTAVE F. GORDUAN. 

